PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antero Mela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Olafur Gunnarsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Olafur Gunnarsson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Mela
vs
Gunnarsson

175 cm
18
216 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
207 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antero Mela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Olafur Gunnarsson!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mela drives through with a takedown into Gunnarsson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mela trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mela landing with the ground and pound.
Mela distracts Gunnarsson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mela in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mela advances to half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mela connects with a nice short shot to Gunnarsson's temple.

Mela is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gunnarsson is just riding it out for now. Mela eventually gives up the hold.
Mela wants to control but Gunnarsson is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ground and pound from Mela.
Mela has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Gunnarsson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mela looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gunnarsson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mela not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mela missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mela could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gunnarsson trying to hold on to Mela's head to control him but Mela postures up.

Mela is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gunnarsson trying to control from the bottom.
Mela scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Mela is trying to control the action in half guard but Gunnarsson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mela thows a huge punch but Gunnarsson dodges it nicely.

Gunnarsson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mela pulls his head out easily.

Gunnarsson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mela drops an elbow to the side of Gunnarsson's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mela throws a strike but Gunnarsson avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Mela connects with a couple of short punches.
Mela working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mela scoring with punches to the head and body.

Mela is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gunnarsson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gunnarsson has escaped and now he's on top!
Gunnarsson with a flurry of punches that miss.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mela is on top in guard.
Mela distracts Gunnarsson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mela slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
An elbow from Mela crashes against the mat.
Mela tries to advance to mount but can't.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mela tries to score with some ground and pound. Gunnarsson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Mela is breathing heavily.
Gunnarsson wants to control but Mela postures up.
Mela working the body and head with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gunnarsson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Mela tries to move to full mount but Gunnarsson actually manages to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antero Mela dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mela shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mela was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
You can see the frustration on Gunnarsson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Mela looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Mela working the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Check out the look on Mela's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Gunnarsson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Mela is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gunnarsson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mela.

Gunnarsson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mela drops an elbow to the side of Gunnarsson's head.
Mela thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gunnarsson's head.
Mela winds up and cracks Gunnarsson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mela wants to take a breather but Gunnarsson is having none of it.

Mela looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mela working Gunnarsson over with strikes.
Mela trying to control from half guard but Gunnarsson is working away.

Mela is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gunnarsson trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mela is looking for a kimura here.
Gunnarsson trying to control but Mela postures up.
Gunnarsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gunnarsson is staying active underneath Mela, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Mela is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Gunnarsson to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Antero Mela overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gunnarsson keeping moving, preventing Mela from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunnarsson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Gunnarsson has his foot on Mela's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mela works his way back into a safe position though.

Gunnarsson looking for a guillotine here but Mela defends easily.
Mela stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gunnarsson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gunnarsson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mela defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antero Mela dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gunnarsson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mela, pushing him back against the cage.

Gunnarsson jumps guard.
Mela scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mela slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mela has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Mela lands a heavy elbow.
Gunnarsson tries to lock up and control but Mela gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mela is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Mela scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Gunnarsson?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gunnarsson is in a horrible position here. Mela smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mela cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mela working Gunnarsson over with strikes here.
Gunnarsson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mela. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gunnarsson tries to hold on but Mela pushes him away.
Mela trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mela landing strikes from the mount and Gunnarsson is in trouble!
Mela lands a big shot there that rocks Gunnarsson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mela is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gunnarsson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mela avoids the attempt from Gunnarsson to control.
Mela thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mela fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Gunnarsson wants to hold on but Mela pushes him away.
Gunnarsson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Mela is working for a guillotine from mount but Gunnarsson frees his head quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mela has hold of Gunnarsson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gunnarsson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Mela misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Gunnarsson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mela tries to control but Gunnarsson wriggling away.
Gunnarsson manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunnarsson trying to control but Mela postures up.
Mela is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gunnarsson can do to turn this around?
Mela working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Mela is looking for a kimura but Gunnarsson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mela to get the leverage.
Mela wants to pass the guard but Gunnarsson is defending well.

Mela is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gunnarsson has managed to free his arm - good work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gunnarsson is staying active underneath Mela, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antero Mela showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mela, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antero Mela!
The defeated Olafur Gunnarsson had this to say: 'I am disappointed to have had my second MMA loss but I will bounce back from this defeat.'.